Wannabe Christian Doorman

There was two people, who were both told that if they could complete a long journey, on foot, then they would be able to enjoy a Great Reward. Both people were not used to walking, at this point in time.

The first person thought, “I’m not very good at walking, perhaps I’ll just try, walking around the block.” Which they did, for a while. After a time, they thought, “I could now go a little bit further, maybe, I could go for a walk, around the local park.”
You maybe getting the idea by now. Little by little, the first person kept increasing the distance that they were walking, steadily over time.

The second person thought, “I don’t like walking, maybe I’ll do some of that tomorrow, when the conditions are a bit better. Today, I’m going to sit back and enjoy myself.”

Over time, the first person became fitter and fitter, where as the second person became, wider and wider.

The second person, would at times, make fun of the first. “You’re going out in that? You should just rest up like me, and enjoy the day.”

The first person would respond, “There is so much reward in getting outside and enjoying what’s available in the here and now. And on top of all that, I’ve got the Great Reward to look forward to, after the day of the journey comes. You should really come outside, and join me. Then you should be able to understand it that much better yourself.”

But the second person would have none of it, and just carried on, in their ways.

Then the day of the journey, suddenly came.

The first person, completed the journey. It was a bit of a task to do, but, because of all the prep work that they had done, they were ready for it. As such, they were able to complete the task, and then go and enjoy the Great Reward, that was waiting for them.

It was something rather different for the second person. They just didn’t have, what was needed for the journey.
There was plenty of moaning and groining about how hard and unfair it was. Why can’t I do it this or that way?
Then there was the pain and anguish, that followed.
The second person was unable to go back to their previous position, as that time had now passed. They were left with being on a constant journey, which they were unable to complete. On top of all that, they became lost in the wilderness, knowing only pain and suffering.

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I can understand that some may think that this is a bit of an extreme picture, but it came to me, as I was thinking about the extra oil that the wise virgins took in the parable that Jesus spoke in Mathew 25:1-13.

My thinking is that the extra oil, that the wise virgins took with them represents the extra prep work, that the wise virgins did, which only they were able to do, for themselves. Much like an exercise regime, can only benefit, the one who completes the regime.

In our walk, with Our Lord God, will we be like the first person or the second person, in the above picture?

If Our Lord God, asks to…
Go to church,
Attend a prayer meeting,
Read our bible,
Spend time in prayer with Him,
or just asks us to do …. .
Then what will our response be, to Him???

Will it be a response like the first or second person?
What will be the consequences of our response, to Our Lord God’s, prompting?

The final part of the parable, that Jesus spoke, can be some serious reading, especially for those who refuse to do any preparation.

Matthew 25:-10-13
¹⁰ “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.

¹¹ “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’

¹² “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’

¹³ “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

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These Tickets are Non Transferable

The alternate title for this post could be, Are you willing to step Outside of your Comfort Zone?

I was at a prayer meeting once, when someone made a comment, something like, “You can bring a challenging word, at times.”

I’m hoping that it was a complement, and not the alternative of, “Are you for Real?” Or “And who do you think you are to bring such a word?” ??? 🙂

I do think, that to bring a challenge, can be a good thing to do, if it is from Our Lord God Almighty. But, sometimes, challenges, even if they are from Our Lord God Almighty, could possibly be considered as, … Unwanted! … ???

In order to try to keep this a balanced post, I’m going to acknowledge that some challenges, can be unwanted, because there is an error to them, in some way (in the challenge itself, or even, in just the timing), and that is what makes those challenges unwanted. For this post, I’ll be thinking about a correct challenge, that Our Lord God, is directing someone to bring.

I’m thinking that the best way to start looking at this idea, is to ask, “How would I respond, if I was the one, who was being challenged?”

So, if it was me, who was being correctly challenged, then how would I respond?

The first question would be, “Am I even going to consider the challenge, or just dismiss it out of hand, as complete nonsense?”

Just because a challenge is correct, it doesn’t mean that I’m going to “see” it as being “correct”, at the point of it being received. Will I be able to come to a point, where I’m able to see that a challenge, is valid, and as such, this means that, I, could be in error, in some way?

A correct challenge, from Our God, could very much so, be a challenge to us. Are we open, for our viewpoint, to being challenged, by Our Lord God?

Hopefully the answer to the above thought is a “Yes”. But then, the next part could be, what if we don’t know, “How”, to respond to the challenge, that is brought to us?

My first thought here is, if we don’t know “How” to respond, then we should ask Our Lord God for help and direction, for what to do next.

If Our Lord God, clearly tells us, that what we are doing is so wrong, that we need to stop, and do an immediate U Turn, then do it!

If Our Lord God, tells us, that there is an exit or escape route ahead, that we should take, then hear His prompting, and take it.

Then there may even be a different time, when Our Lord God, could tell us, “You are in a challenging time, but for you, the correct route is to stay on course, but, keep a keen ear open, to hear the correct steps, to take, at the correct time.”

I’m thinking that this post is very much so going along the lines of, Hear, what Our Lord God, is speaking to us. Then, be willing to Follow, where He is leading us to go.

I’m also starting to think that this post could end being a never ending post, that just keeps circling back on itself. Instead of doing that, I’ll finish with one last thought, that I once heard.

Instead of relying on your brakes, use your steering wheel. The basic interpretation for that thought is, instead of going up to the limit of what’s OK, steer away, or steer clear of it.

John 10:27-28

²⁷ My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. ²⁸ I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.

Romans 12:2

² Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

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Blinded by the Light

There was a garden. It was well cared for with weed free borders and a level lawn. At the end of the garden was a fence with a gate in it.

God had been, for a long time, asking the gardener to go through the gate and take hold of the country beyond.

The gardener wasn’t so keen on the idea though.

“There’s a lot of ground out there! Too much for me to handle.
Look, it’s full of weeds, brambles and stinging nettles and you know how much I don’t like them.
No, I think I’ll stay in my garden that you’ve given to me. I’ve got it just the way I like it now and the work is easy.
Out there in that wild land, it looks like it could be a whole lot more work than I can cope with.
I’ll stay right here, if that’s OK with you..??”

Well God wasn’t so pleased with that.
So he tore down the whole back fence with the gate in it and declared, “See the land that I want you to take hold of. I’m not going to force you to do it, but just look at it. I know it has real potential, and you could be part of the making of this land!
Will you step out of your comfortable garden and move into the new land. Just trust me, I know what you are capable of.”

The gardener was a bit annoyed with God for a while.
That fence served a good purpose.
It kept all that mess out of his garden and also hid the view of all that mess beyond.

After a while though the gardener did step into the new land, just a little bit at a time though. But as time went on, he went further and further, trying to do the small amount he could. (Guided by the unseen hand of his Heavenly Father.)

One day, as he was working away in a certain direction he heard someone else working ahead of him.

As he continued to clear the weeds and brambles he came across a patch of land, cleared of weeds and looking rather tidy.

Another gardener ran to meet him, “Hello there friend, I’m so pleased to see you. My Heavenly Father has been telling me that He would be sending other gardeners along to help with straightening out this wild land. I think that you must be the first of them. Hopefully, together we can start to tame this wild land.”

If Our Lord God, directs us to head into a new …… , then, how will we respond to Him?
If we do follow Our Lord God’s leading, will we then find that His help and provision, will then just turn up, in line with, Our Lord God’s plan?
Might we even be, part of His plan and provision, if we are willing to follow, His leading?